A Quarantine Breakfast

I got out of bed close to 9 a.m. this morning. Which is definitely later than I’d like. Especially because I woke up at 6:30, brushed my teeth, cracked a La Croix, scrolled through my phone.. enough where I could have stayed awake and had some TV time to myself and watch Gossip Girl.. for the third time… no shame. It’s a great freaking show. But back to bed I went. Fast forward two hours and we’re watching Suits in the living room, drinking some French press Kroger coffee, wondering how we got to season 8 already. Hm. Suits is totally our “couple” show. Though it’s definitely lost its steam, we kind of just watch it when we’re starting our day. We don’t have to be fully present. I guess we’re just there for the drama, and have been waiting these whole 8 seasons for our two favorite characters to finally confess their love for each other. Now that’s really what’s keepin’ us plugged in.

ANYWHOM. We bought $136 of groceries the other day. $18 of that is a box of red wine. I always think it’s funny how I would never drink boxed wine a few years ago. I thought it was absolutely horrid, and I was better than it. I was wrong. I’m definitely not better than it.. woops. Practical, decent, doesn’t give the worst hangover in the world so.. boxed it is! Though I will say I am still picky about my wine glasses. I believe the shape I have now is meant for a Burgundy wine. It’s slightly geometric, has a thin rim, makes a nice ding when you accidentally tap something against it. I even made a margarita in mine other day. It’s a versatile little shape. I bought mine at the Welcome Home Shop in East Nashville. They have A++ gifts for every person in your life and they just keep getting in the cutest freaking puzzles. Honestly surprised I haven’t caved yet.

Aaand back to these groceries. I made a pretty stellar b-fast this morning. We had homemade sourdough (whoa, yeah, I did that). The whole thing is a process, it takes about 5 days of love and care to make your “starter”, which is just flour + water that essentially takes in all the weird things in the air and gets all bubbly and starts to smell like crap. But actually kneading dough with your hands and getting all messy and mixing it up to create this beautiful poor persons food? PRICELESS. After doing it once, easy to start again. If you’re taking on this bread making journey like many folks.. I totally didn’t get too technical with my starter. The first time I tried it definitely failed. The second time when I just went off by how I thought it looked, it succeeded. Freeeaking classic. I did 1/3 flour (I used all-purpose, the store has been out of bread flour) and 1/3 filtered water, and fed for 5 days. If at any point it looked too watery, I didn’t add water. Simple enough. For everything after the starter.. I referenced this Tasty article. Here’s the rest of the breakfast deets:

Chili Oil Fried Egg - Inspired by Lou Nashville

Brown Sugar + Red Pepper Flake Bacon - Inspired by Bruce & Son and Biscuit Love (top 2 bacons in the USA)

Lemon + Olive Oil Kale - Inspired by Burger Up

Sourdough - Inspired by Charlie Bucket

I mean.. LOOK AT IT. IT’S BEAUTIFUL.

Key tips here people:

Bake your bacon. 350, about 20 minutes on wax paper. But keep checking on it, ovens are wack. I probably used a full cup of brown sugar for all the bacon.. totally worth it. It browns it so nicely and the fat + sweet + spicy combo is fiiire.

Toast your bread on the stove. Smother that piece in some butter (or olive oil, yo’ choice) and sit it on the flattest pan you can. This toast is a result of a curved pan + uneven cutting job. But promise promise, cooking it this way will give you that diner toast goodness.

Let your kale sit in da juices. Yup yup. Massage it too. Olive oil + lemon juice + kale is my new favorite go to and letting it soak for a little bit in all that gives it way more and even flava flav. I’m a dressing addict, soo. I approve of this method.

EGGGGS.. chili oil is such a secret weapon. I’m not really an egg person (!?) but with the right seasoning and spice, that can change. Thought I will say, our eggs this morning tasted kind of.. fishy? Either somebody didn’t clean the pan well oooor, these were some bad eggs. Oh the IRONY that it’s Easter weekend. But hours later, we are still doing OKAY!

It’s 4 p.m. on a Saturday and we’re now onto sangria in attempts to make our boxed wine last longer.. wine + La Croix + simple syrup + orange + apple. Ayyy. And a fun reusable straw for easy sippin’.

‘Till next time!

<3 HH